Interfax-Ukraine
News about recent political developments in Ukraine, key Ukrainian economic news and major current events in the CIS and the rest of the world.
Canada intends to transfer seized Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine, compensate to victims.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has said the federal government of Canada will change its sanctions law to allow seized and sanctioned foreign assets to be redistributed as compensation to victims or to help in rebuilding a foreign state from war, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has reported.
"Today, we are seeking the capacity to not only seize but to allow for the forfeiture of the assets of sanctioned individuals and entities and to allow us to compensate victims with the proceeds… These changes would make Canada's sanctions regime the first in the G7 to allow these actions," Joly said in a statement on Tuesday.
The CBC said that Canada is among a number of countries to have imposed sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine on February 24. The changes that Canada aims to bring to its sanctions law will mean that funds or property seized from Russia could be paid out to help rebuild Ukraine or go to those affected by Russia's invasion.
The text of the bill says the seized assets can be used for "the reconstruction of the foreign state adversely affected by a grave breach of international peace and security." The funds could also be used for "the restoration of international peace and security" and to compensate victims when that security is breached.
A similar bill that would allow Canada to seize and confiscate Russian assets for the purpose of supporting victims of Russian attacks was already tabled by Sen. Ratna Omidvar and is poised to be approved by the upper chamber.
According to the CBC, the Ukrainian Embassy to Canada has urged lawmakers to quickly enact Omidvar's bill. "We believe it is absolutely fair that Russian state property or ill-gotten assets of Russian oligarchs must become a part of reparations by the aggressor state to the victim of the aggression... By passing the Bill S-217 Canada will demonstrate leadership and could set an example for others to follow and show that the Russian kleptocratic corrupt regime will pay the full cost of its crimes against Ukraine," the embassy said in a statement.
SBU drones hit two oil depots in Smolensk region – source.
Last night, drones of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) hit two oil depots in Smolensk region, where 26,000 cubic meters of fuel were stored, an informed source told Interfax-Ukraine.
U.S. Dept of State includes national TV Marathon in report on human rights violations in Ukraine
The U.S. Department of State presented a report on human rights compliance in Ukraine in 2023. According to the text of the report, in Ukraine last year there were cases of violation of the right to freedom of expression, including for the press a...
In 2023, some 85 cases of war-related sexual violence recorded in Ukraine – UN report.
In 2023, the number of cases of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 50% compared to 2022. This was stated by Pramila Patten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, speaking at a UN Security Cou...
Zelenskyy thanks U.S. Senate for approving vital aid to Ukraine
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the Senate of the U.S. Congress for today's approval of vital assistance to Ukraine.
Biden to urgently sign Ukraine aid legislation to begin sending weapons, equipment this week.
U.S. President Joe Biden will sign the Ukraine Assistance Act to begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week, according to a statement published on the White House website.
Minister: 'Lessons to be learned' over Met Police antisemitism row.
Foreign minister Andrew Mitchell MP says there are "lessons to be learned" over the antisemitism row involving a Met Police officer calling a man "openly Jewish" during a pro-Palestinian march. Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley will meet the home s...
In full: Gideon Falter goes head-to-head with organiser of march he joined in London.
Gideon Falter, the campaigner at the centre of controversy surrounding a pro-Palestinian protest in London, says any Jewish person should be able to "go for a walk in the vicinity of marches". He spoke to Sky's Kay Burley after footage showed a po...
The Voice France winner Kendji Girac has been shot
Popular French singer Kendji Girac has been seriously injured after being shot in the chest during a horror attack in France. Girac, 27, won The Voice France back in 2014 and has worked with musical icons such as Mika in his illustrious decade-lon...
Sunak says airfield on standby and planes booked for Rwanda deportations.
The prime minister has said the first deportation flights to Rwanda will leave "in 10 to 12 weeks", hours before MPs are due to vote on his emergency legislation #Shorts #Sunak #Rwanda SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: Follow us on...
Mark Levin: Here's why Biden has been awful for America.
Fox News host Mark Levin tears into President Biden's presidency on 'Life, Liberty & Levin.' Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch Fox News Channel Live: FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service deliverin...
How will China respond to the US, Philippines drills in the South China Sea? - DW News.
The United States and the Philippines are set to begin their annual ‘Balikatan’ – or “shoulder-to-shoulder” - military exercises. These are the most expansive military drills yet, and come amid a rise in tensions between China and the Philippines....